Utah is facing a growing debate over nuclear energy as electricity demand from data centers, AI, and manufacturing surges. Governor Spencer Cox argues the state must embrace nuclear to stay competitive, pointing to small modular reactors as a reliable, carbon-free power source. Supporters highlight that nuclear plants run 18 to 24 months between refueling and produce no carbon emissions or air pollutants, which could help clean up air quality in the West. Critics, including downwinders and environmental groups, warn that Utah's history with radiation exposure from Cold War nuclear testing should make leaders more cautious. They raise concerns about co-locating reactors with data centers, unresolved waste disposal, and the push for uranium mining and enrichment facilities across the state. The article notes that the U.S. still has no permanent disposal site for radioactive waste, though supporters say modern reactors are designed to contain worst-case scenarios.
